Golden Eaglets’ goalkeeper trainer, Emeka Amadi has affirmed his protege Akpan Udoh has nothing to be ashamed off despite missing the best custodian award at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
Akpan was in goal throughout the tournament for Nigeria and was on top of the rack with an impressive 24 saves in seven matches but was adjudged second best to Malian Samuel Diarra by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) for the Golden Gloves Award.
“I’m happy that Akpan played his part very well in ensuring that we won the World Cup in Chile,” began Amadi who guided Dele Alampasu to win the maiden edition of the Golden Gloves Award at UAE 2013. “It would have been nice if Akpan was picked as the best keeper but winning theWorld Cup is greater than any individual award.”
Amadi, who was in goal for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Saudi Arabia 1989, said he was pleased with Akpan’s overall performance explaining the teenager has a brighterfuture. “The World Cup allowed us to see that Akpan is a very good keeper and he justified my judgment for picking him ahead of other goalkeepers; and I think we are going to see more of him in other levels of the national team.”
In a related development, Goalkeeper Amos Benjamin who was Golden Eaglets first choice until Akpan came into the picture has equally doffed his hat to his supposed rival.
Golden Eaglets Goalkeeper Trainer Emeka Amadi
“I want to thank God because he helped us to achieve success by winning the World Cup after we had come third or fourth in other competitions before,” stated Benjamin who was given the Best Goalkeeper Award when Golden Eaglets came third at the 2014 WAFU U-17 Tournament in Togo.
He continued: “Initially, it was painful to lose the (goal -keeping) position to Akpan but he has shown that he was a better choice. Personally, I’m happy to have been part of this team and I’m grateful to coach Amadi because I’ve learned so much under him; and it is a great feeling to be part of this winning team,” he noted.
Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, has fore closed likelihood of screening fresh players with hordes still drooping to the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Pitch in Abuja.
Though the ‘screening window’ to beef up Niger 2015-bound Golden Eaglets was concluded over a week ago with about 100 players picked from a rigorous exercise, the coaching crew magnanimously allowed few more recruits since they had travelled far and wide to Abuja.
“We don’t have time on our hand again and we have been kind enough to see what some of you can offer but today is the final day,” said Amuneke after Tuesday’s evening session.”Our philosophy is simple
which hard work is and we are not going to compromise it.
“I want you to go back to your various academies and continue to work harder because there could be another opportunity if we qualify for the World Cup in Chile by the grace of God,” said the former Nigerian
international.
Golden Eaglets Training
Already about 20 players with various documented irregularities have been cut off from the pool and a further 44 screened for lacking the technical and tactical abilities. Officials said the remainder are
being subjected to intensive training in order to ascertain their consistency over a time frame and would further be pruned to a manageable number in the coming days.
“We are gradually getting to the moment of truth,” noted Prince Udofia, Golden Eaglets’ coordinator.”The coaching crew has done a very good job and there is no way the screening can go on forever; of course, many would want to be given another chance but the time before the start of our competition is short,” he noted.
Niger 2015, the 11th African U-17 Championship would be held in Niamey between February 15 and March 1st.
The Golden Eaglets are drawn in Group A along with host, Niger; Guinea and Zambia. Nigeria and their northern neighbour, Niger, would play the championship’s opening fixture of February 15 at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) multi-purpose stadium in Niamey.
…as training session enters new phase Golden Eaglets’ training session was taking to a new level on
Wednesday with intensive ball work by the players while the goalkeepers underwent agility test.
Emmanuel Amuneke, Head Coach, said it was important for the players to be put through new routine since there size is now manageable:”It is about time we start reminding ourselves of what we used to do and I
want the new ones to pay special attention to what we are doing. The Under-17 national team is not a bunch of friends set up and anybody that is picked should be able to defend us very well; so serious work
starts.”
Unlike the last three weeks when they mere played to impress s the coaching crew, the youngsters were able to show how strong they are on the ball in confined space. According to Kabiru Baleria, Golden Eaglets’ Assistant Coach who was a gifted striker in his playing days, the rationale behind the new session was to see how the players can effectively dominate the ball when under intense pressure.
“Apart from the passing drill, we can see the marking ability of the players,” said Baleria who was sourced from three-time Premier League Champions, Kano Pillars.”Now, it is easier for us to see much better how skilful thee players are unlike a situation whereby some would hide in full pitch.”
On the other end, Emeka Amadi, Goalkeepers’ trainer put his wards under challenging task including ball work, foot work, and endurance test amongst others.
“The goalkeeping area is a crucial aspect and unfortunately, our young goalkeepers are not properly trained from their respective academies,” said the German-trained Amadi, a former youth international.” But my
objective is to ensure that any of the goalkeepers can man the goal post at any given time.”
Presently, five goalkeepers picked from the screening exercise have joined the trio of Amos Benjamin; Ebuka Nwokeocha and Akpan Udoh who are already Golden Eaglets’ set regular faces in serious competition for a place in the 21-man squad for Niger 2015.
Five players have been dropped from a list of 35 as Nigeria’s Under-17 national team; Golden Eaglets intensify their preparation towards their forthcoming African Championship qualifier against Gabon in September.
Golden Eaglets remarkably dispatched Congo Democratic Republic on a 5-0 aggregate early this month but Head coach Emmanuel Amuneke said there was no room for complacency in order for the team to achieve its aspiration of qualifying for the 2015 African U-17 Championship to be held in Niger.
“The party is over and it is about time we forget about what we had done recently,” Amuneke told the players. “But it is unfortunate that some have not really measured up to the standard we expected.
“We must now focus our attention squarely on Gabon because it would be their desire to qualify for the Under-17 Championship in Niger,” he said.
The five who were given the marching order according to the coaching crew, have significantly dropped in form and have contributed little to the fortune of the team in recent time.
Included on the list were:
Ebije Yahaya,
Prince Omosowhofa,
Chinedu Madueke,
Kingsley Ohiri
and Kabiru Muhammed
Incidentally all midfielders-and have since left the team’s camp in Calabar.
“We have reasonably pruned down the list based on the need of the team according to their performance in comparison to others,” explained Emeka Amadi, Goalkeepers’ trainer, adding that the coaching crew has a pool of players to be called upon when need arises.
“The good thing is that we are in a process of raising a team that can defend the World Cup won in 2013 and we would continue to shuffle the team from time to time since we have about 45 players registered with Confederation of African Football (CAF),”noted Amadi.
National Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets on Sunday night handed a 4-2 defeat to their Egyptian counterparts in an International friendly match played at the Police Sports Stadium in Cairo.
In the match that kicked off 10:15pm local time (9:15pm Nigerian time), bean-pole striker, Victor Osimhen got a first half brace while Samuel Chukwueze and Kingsley Michael scored in the second half.
Both teams settled down quickly after referee Abdel Mohammed signalled the start of the match with the two captains Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria) and Ahmed Hussein much in the thick of the action.
But in the 13th minute, Osimhen put the Golden Eaglets in the lead when he jabbed into the net an inch-perfect cross from Samuel Chukwueze. Osimhen followed it with another goal three minutes later when he headed straight into the net a pullout from Kingsley Michael.
Egypt pulled a goal back within a minute to spare of the first half when Walid Attya latched onto the end of a triangular pass orchestrated by Hamdy and Hosam Adel before dispatching the ball behind Eaglets’ goalkeeper Akpan Udoh.
It was the Egyptians who were back in the hunt at the restart when Karim Yehia got a pass from Ahmed Hamdy before burying the ball behind Udoh in the 52th minute.
Eaglets responded fast after the set back with some good positional play and Chukwueze added his name to the score sheet in the 58th minute when he drove a volley into the net off a pass from tireless
Usman Abass.
Michael added another goal in the 70th minute after goalkeeper Mamoud Gad fumbled with a long range shot from Osimhen who undoubtedly was the man of the match.
Golden Eaglets bench – Emmanuel Amuneke, Kabiru Baleria, Emeka Amadi
It was a game both teams used to test their fringe players towards the end but the match had already been won and lost as the Golden Eaglets got huge praise from the excited spectators.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets that departed Cairo for Abuja aboard EGYPTAIR on Monday would return to Calabar on Tuesday to continue preparation ahead of their first leg, second round CAN Under-17 Championship fixture against Democratic Republic of Congo on July 20.
Eaglets vs. Egypt -July 6, 2014
A.Udoh- L.John, A.Usman(D. Uzama), N. Kelechi(H. Okebugwu), A. Bamidele, H, Zakari(U I. Jack (E. Agenor), K,Orji, V. Osimhen(E. Osinachi), O. Promise(K.Ayinde), S. Chukwueze
Chief Patrick Iloekwe Ndubuisi, the soccer-loving owner of CJ Planet Hotel in Abuja, has tipped the Golden Eaglets to excel under Coach Emmanuel Amuneke.
Ndubuisi who quartered the Under-17 national team for sometime, said as much during a send forth before the team’s departure for Calabar at the weekend.
He said he was impressed with the camaraderie between officials and players as well as their overall conduct and attitude during their stay at his hospice.
“We have been privileged to host others in the past but your team is special and we are impressed with the manner you conducted yourself here,” said the ebullient elderly man.”.”
He explained further that the team has started on a good note with the unity of purpose within the ranks, praying they should continue with the same spirit wherever they may be.
Coach Emeka Amadi, the goalkeepers’ trainer, thanked the management and staff of CJ Planet Hotel on behalf of the team for going the extra mile in organising a party, promising that the team would do everything to make Nigerians proud.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets’ train safely Calabar on Saturday with players and officials gradually settling down at their Princeville Hotel Camp.
“It is great to be here again and we are ready to work very hard,” said Captain Kelechi Nwakali who had a brief stint with the class of 2013.” Coming here would help our concentration and we want to thank the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Cross River State government for this opportunity.”
The Golden Eaglets in the meantime, have started exploring their new environment as the players enjoyed a one-hour swimming session under strict supervision of the technical crew on Sunday while training resumes on Monday at the University of Calabar’s Abraham Ordia Stadium.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has explained the rationale behind the choice of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, in Kaduna as the venue for next week’s friendly match between the Golden Eaglets and their Egyptian counterparts.
The double-header contest will take place on May 28 and 30 as part of both teams’ preparation towards their forthcoming 2015 CAN Under-1 qualifying match slated for July.
Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Director of Competitions at the NFF, explained that the choice of Kaduna was strategic, adding that the opportunity would allow the Golden Eaglets to play under different conditions and atmosphere since their crucial competitive matches are around the corner.
“The NFF decided to take the Golden Eaglets to Kaduna since work is still going on at the Abuja National Stadium and we want the match to be played under a conducive environment in order to keep exposing the players to different situations,” he said.
He added: “The people of Kaduna are so desirous of watching the National Under-17 team since they won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year.
” So allowing the new team being put together to play in Kaduna is symbolic and we are confident that the fans would turn out en mass to support them.”
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets as well as their Egyptian counterparts would expectedly travel down to Kaduna on Monday.
The Egyptian Football Federation(EFA) had in an earlier correspondence with the NFF hinted that a of 33 persons made up of 25
players and eight officials would touch down at Abuja International Airport aboard Egypt Air Number 877 en route to Kaduna. The Golden Eaglets would also visit Cairo in July for a two-match friendly against the Egyptians.
‘Masquerades’ invade Eaglets’ training
Golden Eaglets’ goalkeeping training on Wednesday was turned to a theatre of fun as two ‘masquerades’ were imported by coach Emeka Amadi.
The masquerades patterned in black and white colours were actually goalkeepers’ dummies which according to Amadi, was to stimulate interest as well as proper training of his wards.
” The goalkeeper’s dummy is nothing new because it is used in major top clubs and academies abroad unfortunately it is not yet a common feature here,” said German-trained Amadi who was recently at Hannover 96 to update his knowledge.
“The dummies are essential part of the training as it helps in sharpening reflexes and agility.
“The beauty of the goalkeeper’s dummy is that you can actually collide with it without getting injured unlike the plastic type that was in
vogue in the past and which is prone to accident.
” You can see how excited the goalkeepers were at the training today and we are going to bring more innovation to our training in order to improve the quality of our team,” he added.
The lads described their rumbling with the dummies on the first day as highly exciting and entertaining.
“Training today was very interesting,” noted Goalkeeper Benjamin Amos, who was voted as the best at the WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in Togo.”It was a new experience to all of us but we enjoyed every bit of it.”
Emeka Amadi, Golden Eaglets’ German-trained goalkeeper coach, has thumbed-up the lads under his watch as the Under-17 National Team’s screening is gradually drawing to an end.
Amadi was applauded far and wide after Dele Alampasu was crowned as the Best Goalkeeper at the last FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE.
Also a fortnight ago, he added another feather to his growing profile with the choice of new recruit; Benjamin Amos as the Best Goalkeeper at the recently concluded WAFU B Tournament in Togo.
“So far, so good with the calibre of goalkeepers that we have now in camp,” said Amadi, the former youth international famous for his
heroics at the 1989 FIFA Under-20 World Cup where Nigeria came second.”We already have two goalkeepers in camp, Amos and Femi Idowu but altogether, we have a pool of seven goalkeepers which we are looking at closely.
“At this stage the last time, we were in dire situation because most of the goalkeepers that came forward were not up to standard but I’m very impressed with the ones we have now,” he stated.
Amadi who took time during the off season to update his knowledge at German top side, Hannover 96, said the contribution of a goalkeeper to the overall success of a team cannot be overemphasised.
He noted that dynamics of the game has reached a stage whereby the goalkeeper is as good as any outfield player, adding it was his
prerogative to train the goalkeepers to world standard.
“Education and training at any level is a continuous process,” noted Amadi, a former Montessori teacher.” I was at Hannover’96 during the break and it was a good opportunity to learn new things which ultimately, I would pass on to our new goalkeepers.”
Meanwhile, Amadi has again stated matter-of-factly that no player has to pay a dime to make the new Golden Eaglets, advising parents and guardians to be wary of unscrupulous elements who might want to take undue advantage of their youngsters.
“Nobody is asking for a Kobo from anybody and the players here can bear us witness that there is no under the table deal,” declared
Amadi. “Once again, we are appealing to parents and guardians to ignore anyone persons asking them to pay before bringing their wards forward for the screening.”
Officials and players of the National Under-17 team were full of smiles on Sunday after organisers of the WAFU B Tournament rewarded the Golden Eaglets with the Fair Play Award as well as crowning Amos Benjamin as the best goalkeeper.
While the Golden Eaglets were also adjudged as the best in terms o sportsmanship as they received less caution in their four matches, Benjamin received the best goalkeeper award for his outstanding display in all the team’s matches.
“Personally, I’m happy that Amos was picked as the best goalkeeper of the tournament because he has improved tremendously since he came into the camp “said goalkeepers’ trainer and former youth international,
Emeka Amadi. ” But more than anything else, I was impressed with his overall contribution to the success of the team and I think he can even get better. ” From the indices, he was outstanding because we have some other good goalkeeper at the tournament ;the Mali and Benin goalkeeper are equally good but I’m happy it was Benjamin that was picked as the best,” he noted.
In four matches, Benjamin conceded only a goal and his agility was there for all to see especially in the ill-fated 3-1 semi-finals’
penalty shoot-out loss to Benin. The product from Football College Abuja for instance, saved one-on-one situations against the rampaging Beninois to keep the score line at a respectable 1-1 draw in regulation time.
This is the second time that a Golden Eaglets’ goal-tender would be crowned the best at a tournament following the feat achieved by Dele Alampasu when the team won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year.
In the meantime, the ‘little Squirrels’ of Benin were the overall winner of the tournament after their 2-1 victory over Mali in Sunday’s Final Match. The Golden Eaglets finished in third position after a 3-0 win over hosts, Togo in the play-off also decided on Sunday.
World Cup Under-17 Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are on the march again as the screening of new players that would defend the title won last year in the United Arab Emirates begins in Abuja on Thursday.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalized arrangement for the smooth take off of the usual gruelling exercise at the practice
pitch of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site. Team Administrator, Tayo Egbaiyelo informed that players would be called up in batches in order to create an enabling environment for the coaching crew to pick the budding talents.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, Golden Eaglets’ coach Emmanuel Amuneke said he has combed the nooks and crannies of the country in the last one month to fish out some raw talents.
The first batch of 35 players are due in camp on Wednesday in order to commence the screening on Thursday. More than 4000 players took part in similar exercise before the 2013 World Cup-winning team was assembled by coach Manu Garba who was incidentally assisted by Amuneke.
The NFF recently promoted Garba and Nduka Ugbade to the Under-20 team while leaving behind the duo of Amuneke and Emeka Amadi (goalkeepers’ trainer) to tinker with the Under-17s.
The 2015 CAN Under-17 Championship will be held in Niger. Golden Eaglets are already drawn bye into the second round of the CAN Cadet Championship by CAF and would meet the winner of the First Round tie between Burundi and Congo DR with the first leg scheduled for Jul 18-20 while the reverse fixture will be held between August 1-3.
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